Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced stringent measures to prevent corruption and profiteering during the ongoing Ebola health crisis, drawing sharp lessons from the alleged mismanagement and fraud that characterized Kenya’s COVID-19 response.
Speaking during the commissioning of a new maternity wing at Uruku Health Centre in Meru County, Duale firmly stated that his ministry has instituted tight controls to ensure unscrupulous business people do not exploit the Ebola situation to defraud the government.
He made direct reference to the so-called “COVID Billionaires”—cartels believed to have siphoned billions from public coffers during the pandemic.
In a rare personal reflection, the Cabinet Secretary shared that his own mother died of COVID-19, a loss that he said fuels his determination to prevent business interests and rogue public servants from capitalizing on public health emergencies. He emphasized that profiting from lives at risk is unacceptable and that oversight mechanisms have been strengthened to protect public funds.
Shifting to political matters, Duale strongly defended Deputy President Prof. Kiithure Kindiki, who hails from the larger Meru region spanning from River Thiuci to Ntonyiri. He called on residents not to allow the DP to be disrespected, framing Kindiki as a strategic asset for the region.
Using a local proverb, Duale cautioned the community against what he termed a risky shift in allegiance. He described the region as already having a bird in hand and warned that opposition overtures could lead to losing that advantage in pursuit of uncertain gains—like chasing two birds in the bush.
The Cabinet Secretary also drummed up support for President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 general election, endorsing a continued Ruto-Kindiki ticket as vital for economic prosperity, security stability, and progress toward universal health coverage.
He argued that the partnership offers policy consistency and a clear pathway for development, especially in health infrastructure and national safety.
Duale was in Uruku to officially open a modern maternity wing constructed in partnership with the Safaricom MPESA Foundation. The facility is expected to improve maternal and child health services in the region
